Handy Keyboard Shortcuts for Adobe Illustrator

Handy Keyboard Shortcuts in Adobe Illustrator

Drawing in Illustrator while continually clicking back and forth to your Toolbar to change your options is a drag. We strongly suggest that you take a few minutes to memorize keyboard commands: it’ll save time and help reduce strain on your mouse (or tablet!) hand.

Please note these commands were written for Mac. PC users can use the key ‘Control’ instead of ‘Command’.

Here are some commands I use most (in no particular order):

Tool Shortcuts

ADirect Selection Tool (white arrow)

VSelection Tool (black arrow)

PPen Tool

NPencil Tool

IEyedropper Tool

CScissors

XToggles between fill and stroke colors

Shift-XSwaps your fill and stroke colors

TType Tool

MShape Tool

Pen Tool

OptionConvert anchor point

SpacebarMove an anchor point as you’re drawing

OptionSwitch between your add and delete pen tools

CommandSwitch between your pen tool and direct select

ShiftDraw on 45˚, 90˚, 135˚ or 180˚ axis

Shape Drawing

OptionDraws from the center

SpacebarMove an object while you’re drawing

ShiftConstrains the proportions

Option ShiftConstrains the proportions while drawing from the center

Option and Mouse releaseCloses a path with the pencil or paintbrush tools as you’re finishing drawing

Copying and Moving Shapes

Command Shift [Move an object behind all other shapes

Command Shift [Move an object in front of all other shapes

Command Shift ]Move an object behind next shape

Command Shift ]Move an object in front of next shape

Command CCopy

Command VPaste

Command FPaste in front

Command BPaste behind

OptionCreates a copy when dragging from a shape

Arrow KeysMoves selected object

Shift and Arrow KeysMoves selected objects in larger increments

Option-ShiftMakes a copy on a 45˚, 90˚, 135˚ or 180˚ axis while dragging on a selected shape

Viewing and Guides

SpacebarBrings up your Hand Tool (but don’t use it when editing type!)

Drawing in Illustrator while continually clicking back and forth to your Toolbar to change your options is a drag. We strongly suggest that you take a few minutes to memorize keyboard commands: it’ll save time and help reduce strain on your mouse (or tablet!) hand.

Please note these commands were written for Mac; PC users can use the key ‘Control’ instead of ‘Command’.

Here are some commands I use most (in no particular order):

Tool Shortcuts

A: Direct Selection Tool (white arrow)

V: Selection Tool (black arrow)

P: Pen Tool

N: Pencil Tool

I: Eyedropper Tool

C: Slice Tool

X: Toggles between fill and stroke colors

Shift X:Swaps your fill and stroke colors

T: Type Tool

M: Shape Tool

Pen Tool Shortcuts

Option: Convert anchor point

Spacebar: Move an anchor point as you’re drawing

Option: Switch between your add and delete pen tools

Command: Switch between your pen tool and direct select

Shift: Draw on 45˚, 90˚, 135˚ or 180˚ axis

Drawing Shapes

Option: Draws from the center

Spacebar: Move an object while you’re drawing

Shift: Constrains the proportions

Option Shift: Constrains the proportions while drawing from the center

Option and Mouse release: Closes a path with the pencil or paintbrush tools as you’re finishing drawing

Copying and Moving Shapes

Command Shift [: Move an object behind all other shapes

Command Shift [:Move an object in front of all other shapes

Command Shift ]: Move an object behind next shape

Command Shift ]: Move an object in front of next shape

Command C: Copy

Command V: Paste

Command F: Paste in front

Command B: Paste behind

Option: Creates a copy when dragging from a shape

Arrow Keys: Moves selected object

Shift and Arrow Keys: Moves selected objects in larger increments

Option Shift: Makes a copy on a 45˚, 90˚, 135˚ or 180˚ axis while dragging on a selected shape

Viewing and Guides

Spacebar: Brings up your Hand Tool (but don’t use it when editing type!)

Super helpful article! Is there any way to move from the Move (V) tool to the Path Eraser tool? Pressing N always switches back to pencil; there seems to be no apparent shortcut to the Path Eraser tool, but I use it all the time and would love to be able to switch back without having to do mouse work.

Anyone know of a handy way to flip from actually using the Type tool (T) to the select tool (V) effectively ceasing the typing and taking focus of the object in a select mode? I am still trying to figure out if that can be done using keys instead of moving back and forth between the canvas and tool pallet with my cursor.

Hi Beth, I know what you mean, super frustrating! Believe me, I’ve often added unwanted ‘V’s to my text when trying to change to my select tool. The workaround I use is if I’m in the middle of typing into a text box, I will hit ‘Command’ (‘Control’ on PC I believe) on my keyboard and with it held down I’ll click outside of my text area. This will deselect my text box and from there I can hit ‘V’ to bring up my selection arrow. If anyone else has any suggestions we’d LOVE to hear them!

While typing and wanting to move quickly to another tool or keyboard shortcut, I will Ctrl Shift A to quickly deselect and then press whatever key I want next.

If you’re fast with the keys as I am, sometimes my fingers will deselect a bit fast and the order will get off and you here and there get left with a “Av” on the end of your text, but it’s minimal when that happens as it saves a move with your mouse.